Merlin took his comments on Mandriva as a joke. He was about to laugh when he heard Elliot explain himself. Okay, so it wasn't best to laugh. He shook his head.
"I thought you were making a joke, lad," he said. It was best to also tell him about other places at least. "Where I'm from, it's still around. Not by much, but still there. You're not the first I've heard of a time change. My friend is here but I knew him from at least a year ago. Others are from the future and some from the past - it does take a while to get used to.
"No need to apologize." Merlin couldn't hear Mr. Robot, but he thought Elliot would need to hear those words. "If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask me. I've been here a few months longer than you and it's still strange to me. Even stranger than my last job."
And damn did he miss his last job. That was the past though and he couldn't go back to thinking about it.